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A Progressive Conservative candidate has been sanctioned by Elections Nova Scotia for promising on his Facebook page to offset the cost of a municipal election if he's elected to the legislature.

Bruce Inglis, the Progressive Conservative candidate for Queens-Shelburne, is a sitting municipal councillor for the Region of Queens Municipality. If Inglis is elected to the legislature, there must be a byelection to fill his municipal seat.

Inglis wrote on his Facebook page that he would make a donation to Queens Place Emera Centre — the local rink — equal to the cost of holding a byelection.

"I was able to indicate that IF I am successful and a byelection needed, I will pay up to that amount, in the form of a donation to Queens Place, minus any councillor salary not paid while the election is held," he wrote.

Elections Nova Scotia said that pledge violated the Elections Act, which states candidates and prospective candidates may not make or promise to make any subscriptions or donations in exchange for receiving votes.

Inglis has since removed the post from his Facebook page.

Just 10 days earlier, Inglis and the Progressive Conservative Party sent out a press release reminding the New Democratic Party to play by the rules when Sterling Belliveau ​— the NDP candidate in Queens-Shelburne ​— was sanctioned by Elections Nova Scotia for being in violation of the Elections Act.

"We think the people of the riding should expect all candidates to follow the rules laid out by Elections Nova Scotia," Inglis said in a statement dated Sept. 15.

"Having all candidates pay attention to detail and compete on a level playing field is not too much to ask."

Atlantic Salmon Federation also cited

Elections Nova Scotia said this advertisement by the Atlantic Salmon Federation violates a rule that prohibits third parties from advertising that could be considered political during a campaign. (CBC)

Elections Nova Scotia has also taken action about a full-page advertisement that appeared in the Chronicle Herald earlier this week as part of the Atlantic Salmon Federation's campaign against salmon farms.

The ad shows a picture of Nova Scotia's South Shore with the comment, "Our coastline is under attack."

Elections Nova Scotia said the advertisement violates a rule that prohibits third parties from advertising that could be considered political during a campaign, unless they first register with Elections Nova Scotia.

The Atlantic Salmon Federation said the advertisement was part of a months-long campaign and it was scheduled to run without consideration for the election campaign.

A spokesman for the federation told CBC News the ad was not aimed at any particular party or candidate, but to settle the issue it has agreed to register with Elections Nova Scotia — which means it will have to disclose the names of donors who contributed to the ad.

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